"Assistant Professor, Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry"

Job Details

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences MBU

Department: Chemistry

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in synthetic organic chemistry to begin in Fall 2026. The candidates are expected to develop and maintain a funded, nationally recognized research program in synthetic organic chemistry, preferably in the interface with chemical biology and/or drug discovery. The candidate’s research interests should complement those of existing faculty and have potential for collaboration with other VCU departments and centers. Teaching will primarily be in undergraduate and graduate courses in Organic Chemistry.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

A Ph.D. in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology or a closely related field is required, and post-doctoral experience is strongly encouraged. Exceptional candidates at the Associate level will also be considered. The Chemistry Department of VCU is committed to the dual mission of teaching and research at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Further information can be found at the department website: https://chemistry.vcu.edu/.

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Candidates need to submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a document containing a detailed research proposal (1 page summary, 4-page proposal, including references, single-spaced), (4) a teaching, mentoring, and student engagement statement (2 pages, single-spaced), and (5) an estimate of start-up costs to VCUjobs.com

Candidates at the assistant professor level should submit the names of three references and arrange for them to provide recommendation letters. Review of applications will begin November 1, and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Brian Fuglestad, Search Committee Chair, at for any questions about the position.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is one of only 84 public universities nationwide classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” as well as its prestigious “Community Engagement” status with more than $500 million in sponsored research in FY 2024. We are a rapidly growing top 50 public research institution, as ranked by the National Science Foundation. We are also among the top 20% of the best Global universities as ranked by US News & World Report. VCU Medical Center is both the region’s safety net hospital and the Richmond metro area’s No. 1-ranked hospital (per the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings). VCU’s Massey Cancer Center is an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Preferred Qualifications

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Assistant Professor

Tenure: Tenure Track

Months: 9 months

Contact Information: Contact Name: Brian Fuglestad
Contact Email: fuglestadb@vcu.edu